The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It

(Hardback)

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Why Capable People Suffer from the Impostor Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It Learn to take ownership of your success, overcome self-doubt, and banish the thought patterns that undermine your ability to feel-and act-as bright and capable as others alreadyknowyou are with this award-winning book by Valerie Young. It's only because they like me. I was in the right place at the right time. I just work harder than the others. I don't deserve this. It's just a matter of time before I am found out. Someone must have made a terrible mistake. If you are a working woman, chances are this inter-nal monologue sounds all too familiar. And you're not alone. From the high-achieving Ph.D. candidate convinced she's only been admitted to the program because of a clerical error to the senior executive who worries others will find out she's in way over her head, a shocking number of accomplished women in all ca-reer paths and at every level feel as though they are faking it-impostors in their own lives and careers. While the impostor syndrome is not unique to women, women are more apt to agonize over tiny mistakes, see even constructive criticism as evi-dence of their shortcomings, and chalk up their accomplishments to luck rather than skill. They often unconsciously overcompensate with crippling perfec-tionism, overpreparation, maintaining a lower pro-file, withholding their talents and opinions, or never finishing important projects. When they do succeed, they think, Phew, I fooled 'em again. An internationally known speaker, Valerie Young has devoted her career to understanding women's most deeply held beliefs about themselves and their success. In her decades of in-the-trenches research, she has uncovered the often surprising reasons why so many accomplished women experience this crushing self-doubt. In The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women, Young gives these women the solution they have been seek-ing. Combining insightful analysis with effective ad-vice and anecdotes, she explains what the impostor syndrome is, why fraud fears are more common in women, and how you can recognize the way it mani-fests in your life.

Reviews

[Valerie] Youngs extremely perceptive and action-oriented solutions shine.... A cant-miss primer for businesswomen everywhere.Publishers Weekly (starred review)

The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women examines a common affliction and offers tools, insight, scientific evidence, and numerous examples that aim to banish the impostor for good. Valerie Youngs diligence, passion for the subject, and belief that anyone can overcome feelings of inadequacy, duplicity, and unworthiness rings loudly throughout The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women.New York Journal of Books

Dr. Young is a mapmaker. She inspires us to go for it by providing guidelines to make success a choice based on our values rather than on our fear of incompetence. This book is a gift to the millions who want to replace fear and suffering with excitement and joy in their achievements. I am recommending it to all my clients and students who suffer with impostor feelings.Suzanne Imes, Ph.D., co-coiner of the impostor phenomenon

Valerie Youngs book, The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women, provides important insights into the impostor experience of very competent women. She provides important knowledge that can help women begin to truly appreciate and acclaim their success.Pauline Rose Clance, Ph.D., ABPP, co-coiner of the impostor phenomenon

Self-doubt is common, but when it impedes you from attaining your goals, its time to take action. This book shows you how to move beyond feeling like an impostor so that you can achieve your full personal and professional potential.Lois P. Frankel, Ph.D., author of Nice Girls Just Dont Get It and Nice Girls Dont Get the Corner Office

The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women is as important as The Feminine Mystique. Quite simply, if you are a womanor love onethis book belongs in your library.Barbara J. Winter, author of Making a Living Without a Job

Author Bio

Valerie Young is considered the leading expert on impostor syndrome and co-founder of Impostor Syndrome Institute. She's spoken to over half a million people at such diverse organizations as Pfizer, Google, Boeing, Microsoft, P&G, Carrier, NASA, National Cancer Institute, and over 100 universities including Harvard, MIT, and Oxford. Her advice has been cited in such publications as Time, Newsweek, Science, and O magazines and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Sydney Morning Herald, and Globe and Mail. She lives in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Her book is available in five languages.